Patients whose doctors have diagnosed them with a debilitating medical condition are subject to arrest
Can assert the medical use of marijuana as an affirmative defense at trial though
Patients will need to show that the doctor who made the diagnosis was one with whom the patient has an ongoing, bona fide physician-patient relationship
Patients need to show that marijuana is likely to provide him or her with therapeutic or palliative relief
Defense is not available to anyone in possession of more than one ounce of marijuana or who uses marijuana in a public place
For patients who don’t qualify for the full affirmative defense, there is also a sentencing mitigation whereby, upon conviction, they can present evidence of “medical necessity”
If the court agrees, the maximum penalty that can be imposed is a $100 fine
The law does not include caregivers, dispensaries, or home cultivation to provide patients with a safe source of their medicine
For non-medical purposes possession of any amount of marijuana, even as little as a single gram, can land you in jail for up to a year
Plus a $1000 fine
Arrest rate for African-Americans in Maryland is almost 20% higher than the national average
Over three times that of whites in the state
Better approach would be decriminalizing marijuana
Those caught in possession of a modest amount would be given only a civil fine
Without the possibility of jail time, saving valuable law enforcement resources
Smoked marijuana has been implicated in a high percentage of automobile crashes and workplace accidents
Clinical trials to evaluate of the effectiveness of marijuana to treat certain conditions have been restrictive and limited
Until marijuana is downgraded from a Schedule I drug of the Controlled Substances Act, widespread clinical trials are unlikely to happen
If we really want a conclusive answer whether marijuana is valuable for symptom management, it needs to be evaluated using the same standards as other medications
Fourteen U.S. states have active medical marijuana laws
Marijuana is the dried blossom of cannabis sativa and cannabis indica plants, leafy annual plants with parts that are used for as herbs, animal food, medicine and as hemp for rope-making
Many believe that objections to marijuana first rose sharply as part of the U.S. temperance movement against alcohol
Cannabis is known to ease pain disorders, including the side-effects cancer patients experience throughout treatment
One of the biggest concerns is that the ease of access to marijuana, medical or otherwise, will mean that children have easier access to a drug that could hurt them
Medical marijuana is legalized in just a few states including California and Colorado
Many disapprove of medical marijuana because they believe it is a step toward legalizing all illicit drugs for general use
Others argue that marijuana is far safer than alcohol, which is legal, and that medical marijuana provides a safe and natural treatment for a variety of chronic issues
It’s a debate that rages everywhere around the country
Whether it should be legal or not is an emotional topic
Other drugs, other than marijuana, are more addictive
No one has ever died from marijuana overdose
Claim that it is safer for the patient and less damaging to the body
People claim that it will be abused, not just for medical reasons
- Patients whose doctors have diagnosed them with a debilitating medical condition are subject to arrest
- Can assert the medical use of marijuana as an affirmative defense at trial though
- Patients will need to show that the doctor who made the diagnosis was one with whom the patient has an ongoing, bona fide physician-patient relationship
- Patients need to show that marijuana is likely to provide him or her with therapeutic or palliative relief
- Defense is not available to anyone in possession of more than one ounce of marijuana or who uses marijuana in a public place
- For patients who don’t qualify for the full affirmative defense, there is also a sentencing mitigation whereby, upon conviction, they can present evidence of “medical necessity”
- If the court agrees, the maximum penalty that can be imposed is a $100 fine
- The law does not include caregivers, dispensaries, or home cultivation to provide patients with a safe source of their medicine
- For non-medical purposes possession of any amount of marijuana, even as little as a single gram, can land you in jail for up to a year
- Plus a $1000 fine
- Arrest rate for African-Americans in Maryland is almost 20% higher than the national average
- Over three times that of whites in the state
- Better approach would be decriminalizing marijuana
- Those caught in possession of a modest amount would be given only a civil fine
- Without the possibility of jail time, saving valuable law enforcement resources
http://dying.about.com/od/symptommanagement/f/med_mj_procon.htm- Pros of medical marijuana are: marijuana is effective at relieving nausea and vomiting, especially caused by chemotherapy used to treat cancer
- Marijuana can relieve spasticity of the muscles that is sometimes associated with multiple sclerosis and paralysis
- Marijuana can help treat appetite loss associated with HIV/AIDS and certain types of cancers
- Marijuana can relieve certain types of pain]
- Marijuana is safe, safer in fact than most other prescribed medications to treat the same symptoms
- Studies show that smoking marijuana alone, does not increase the risk of lung diseases
- Marijuana has been used for centuries as a medicinal agent with good effect
- Cons of medical marijuana are: frequent marijuana use can seriously affect your short-term memory
- Frequent use can impair your cognitive ability
- Smoking anything, whether it's tobacco or marijuana, can seriously damage your lung tissue
- Not enough evidence supports marijuana as an effective pain relieving agent
- Marijuana carries a risk of abuse and addiction
- Smoked marijuana contains cancer-causing compounds
- Smoked marijuana has been implicated in a high percentage of automobile crashes and workplace accidents
- Clinical trials to evaluate of the effectiveness of marijuana to treat certain conditions have been restrictive and limited
- Until marijuana is downgraded from a Schedule I drug of the Controlled Substances Act, widespread clinical trials are unlikely to happen
- If we really want a conclusive answer whether marijuana is valuable for symptom management, it needs to be evaluated using the same standards as other medications
- Fourteen U.S. states have active medical marijuana laws
- Marijuana is the dried blossom of cannabis sativa and cannabis indica plants, leafy annual plants with parts that are used for as herbs, animal food, medicine and as hemp for rope-making
- Many believe that objections to marijuana first rose sharply as part of the U.S. temperance movement against alcohol
- Cannabis is known to ease pain disorders, including the side-effects cancer patients experience throughout treatment
http://rehab-international.org/marijuana-addiction/medical-marijuana-pros-cons- One of the biggest concerns is that the ease of access to marijuana, medical or otherwise, will mean that children have easier access to a drug that could hurt them
- Medical marijuana is legalized in just a few states including California and Colorado
- Many disapprove of medical marijuana because they believe it is a step toward legalizing all illicit drugs for general use
- Others argue that marijuana is far safer than alcohol, which is legal, and that medical marijuana provides a safe and natural treatment for a variety of chronic issues
- It’s a debate that rages everywhere around the country
- Whether it should be legal or not is an emotional topic
- Other drugs, other than marijuana, are more addictive
- No one has ever died from marijuana overdose
- Claim that it is safer for the patient and less damaging to the body
- People claim that it will be abused, not just for medical reasons
- People will lie to doctors to get a prescription
- Abuse is a big argument
- Requires addiction treatment
http://familydoctormag.com/alternative-medicine/300-medical-marijuana-pros-and-cons-doctors-debate-opinions.html- Short term side effects
- Short term memory loss
- Long term effects like lung cancer
- Weakened immune system
- Increased heart attack risk in the hour after smoking
- But it treats glaucoma
- Helpful if experiencing side effects from AIDS
- Treats multiple epilepsy
- Illegal at the federal level
- Legal in certain states
- Government deems drugs in this category to have a high abuse potential
- Marijuana is a lousy drug but can be a great medication
- Marijuana is an excellent nausea suppressant and appetite enhancer
- Very useful in treating the symptoms of cancer
- Also HIV
- And hepatitis C
- Does not have recreational use
- But clearly has medical use
- Leads to structural changes on the brain
- Effects are outweighing the benefits of medical marijuana http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/
- Lacks FDA approval
- Leads to harder drug use
- Interferes with fertility
- Impairs driving ability
- They say that medical marijuana is a front for drug legalization and recreational use
- Legal in Washington, DC
- Eighteen states pending legalization
- People ask if it is too dangerous to be used as a medical resource
- Provides relief for migraine
- Regular pain
- Spasticity
- Crohn’s disease
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Cachexia
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Anorexia
- Motion sickness
- Neuropathy
- Menstrual cramps
- Brain injury
- Broken bones
- Tourette’s syndrome
- Common headaches
- Some people support that teens should smoke marijuana if hurt
- Or if they have cancer
- Only if it will help them medically
- Children entering drug abuse treatment routinely report that they heard that “pot is medicine” and, therefore, believed it to be good for them
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-to-announce-six-companies-will-grow-medical-marijuana/2012/03/29/gIQAjWtHkS_story.html D.C. picks six companies to grow medical marijuana